Mumsnet pushchair review: Mamas & Papas Ocarro
Thanks to puncture-resistant wheels and a light steering system, the Mamas & Papas Ocarro is an all-terrain pushchair designed for both comfort and stability.
By Mumsnet HQ | Last updated Dec 4, 2023
Price: RRP £849 | Buy now from Boots
This pram features in our roundup of the best pushchairs.
We also have handy guides to the best lightweight strollers, the best umbrella strollers, the best travel systems, the best double buggies and the best running buggies, all featuring product recommendations from Mumsnet users.
What we love
Can be folded with the seat still attached
Dual suspension
Large extendable sunshade for maximum coverage
Padded seat, pillow and chest pads
Chunky puncture-resistant wheels
What to know
Basket can only be loaded from the back
Heavy to carry
Fiddly, stiff harness clip
What are the key features?
Freestanding when folded
Adjustable handle
Three-point recline, including a lie-flat position
Five-point harness
Large, plush seat
One-handed fold
Compact when folded
Puncture-proof tyres for off-roading
Reflective trim on wheels
Rain cover included
Car seat compatible
What are the specs?
Suitable from: Birth to 15kg (using carrycot)
Pushchair orientation: Parent- and world-facing
Number of wheels: Four
Extras included: Rain cover, bumper bar, sun canopy
Dimension: H 110 x W 58 x L 96 cm
Folded dimensions: H 37 x W 58 x L 76 cm
Weight: 13.5kg
Compatible with the following car seats: Cybex Aton, Cybex Aton Q, Cybex Cloud Q, Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, Maxi-Cosi Pebble, Maxi-Cosi Rock, BeSafe iZi Go, Joie Gemm, Joie i-Gemm, Nuna Pipa Lite, Nuna Pipa lite LX, Joie i-Level i-Size
What does the package include?
We tested the four-piece Ocarro Explorer bundle, which included the chassis, seat, carrycot and adaptors for a car seat. The car seat is available separately or as part of other larger packages as well.
The Ocarro comes with a sunshade hood as standard for both the seat and carrycot as well as a separate carrycot and rain cover. The seat and carrycot fit straight to the chassis with no adapters needed.
There are six colourways available to choose from which are all fairly neutral and they go well with the smart mirror-framed chassis.
We tested the sage green colour, which looked really smart and drew lots of admiring glances on the school run.
The Ocarro is a bigger version of the Mamas & Papas Armadillo, which makes it larger and heavier than some on test, for example the super lightweight Maxi-Cosi Zelia.
Read next: The best baby car seats to buy
How easy is it to assemble?
The Ocarro is very simple to put together – it took about five minutes in total – and came with easy-to-follow paper instructions for further guidance.
Unfortunately, when we looked on the Mamas & Papas website for online instructions or videos there weren’t any available due to a technical fault. We found some alternative options on YouTube, including an official Mamas & Papas video.
To assemble the pushchair, it’s just a matter of attaching the wheels and seat. Make sure you put the wheels on the right way though otherwise the brake won’t work, so be sure to double-check this before you try it out with your baby.
The carrycot was also very simple to open and put together and only took another five minutes to assemble.
The Ocarro also comes with care instructions and warranty details. Mamas & Papas offer a two-year warranty on all their products and their customer service team can be reached using a telephone number or a web form.
Read next: Everything you need to know about taking a pram on a plane
How does it look?
Simply put, this buggy is stunning. It has a stylish chassis and a beautiful brown leather trim on the handles and bumper bar. The material is luxurious so it really feels worth the £800 price tag.
The Ocarro's seat unit is suitable for a child up to 15kg, which is approximately three years of age, and it does lie flat for newborns, however it may feel a little too open when used with smaller babies.
The buggy's frame is sturdy, but this is reflected in the weight, which is a significant 13.3kg – nearly four kilograms heavier than other buggies on test, such as the relatively lightweight Maxi-Cosi Zelia, which weighs only 9.6kg, and the Bugaboo Fox, which weighs 9.9kg.
"My Ocarro has been fantastic. Big solid wheels for off-road, gorgeous design, big basket, very sturdy and cosy. My baby hated the carrycot, but loved being in the seat. Just a beautiful handy buggy."
How comfortable is it?
When it comes to comfort, the seat is soft and snug, aided by the memory foam-style head insert for added support and the bumper bar for extra security. The seat lays completely flat for naps and the carrycot is so soft and comfortable it was our tester’s preferred option while her baby was still young enough.
Our tester noted the seat was quite slim and her chunky seven-month-old looked like he filled the seat, while her 26-month-old niece would just about fit.
The carrycot is lovely and comfy and it comes with a good quality apron that fits securely to keep baby protected from the wind. It also has its own decent-sized hood that will also keep the baby safe from the elements.
To lift the carrycot out of the frame, you simply use lever at the front of the buggy so there’s no chance of jolting awake a sleeping baby. Our tester’s baby loved this carrycot and was always really happy to be popped in for a walk.
Read next: The best 360 spin car seats to buy, as tested by Mumsnetters
What's it like to use day-to-day?
When it comes to busy family life, the Ocarro is a useful addition. Attaching the seat to the chassis in place of the carrycot (and vice versa) is simple and changing the seat angle is also a breeze – there is a designated handle used to alternate between the three seat positions: upright, lie flat and tilted. The leg rest also has two positions and is easy to adjust, too.
Mamas & Papas' Ocarro has a generously-sized storage basket, which comfortably holds at least three shopping bags. On family days out, it can easily hold a changing bag, rain cover, food shopping and an extra bag of baby travel toys, which is no mean feat.
The only issue our tester had with basket was that it has a very high front, so it can only be loaded from the back. She felt she would be able to fit a lot more in it if it was slightly lower at the front.
A standout feature of the buggy, however, is its dual suspension. It easily goes up and down kerbs and our tester barely felt any bumps when pushing it around day-to-day. The suspension swallowed up bumpy football fields and even went on a 5K park run, which it handled effortlessly.
She noted that, while it was one of the heaviest travel systems on test, it felt light to push and turns easily, making it easy to push round corners, take on public transport or weave through crowds on busy high streets.
The handles are extendable and suited our 5'7” tester, her six-foot partner and six-year-old son as they all liked to get involved in pushing the buggy on days out.
As for the sun hood, it is UV 50+-protected, is easy to fit and is large in size. It is also very sturdy in the wind and keeps the baby protected at all times. It looks like a cocoon when fully open, hiding the baby completely, although you will have to remove the bumper bar if you want it to fully extend.
The hood also has an integrated peek-a-boo window so you can check on your baby if they are napping. There’s also a ventilation panel for warmer weather.
How does the Mamas & Papas Ocarro fold?
Our tester loved how the Ocarro folded. It flips in half to a standing position, rather like the Bugaboo Fox but with slightly fewer steps. It folds relatively small considering the size of chassis and there is a convenient carry handle to make the 13kg weight slightly more bearable.
The pram can be folded with the seat still attached in both front-facing and parent-facing mode. Our tester liked that she could fold the pushchair with the seat still attached as most we tested needed to be removed completely.
The easy fold also made it convenient to take the Ocarro on public transport. If left assembled, however, it is tricky to on train and busses – while it did fit, the long frame made it a tight squeeze.
Read next: The best baby carriers to buy, as reviewed by parents
How safe is it?
The foot brake is thoughtfully positioned on one side of the frame, is easy to use and only needs a soft touch to be clicked on and off. At times, however, our tester did find it got a little stuck so she needed to apply extra pressure to unclip it.
It was tested on different inclines while out walking in town and in the countryside and always gripped well, never once allowing the pushchair to roll.
When it comes to balance and stability, the Ocarro passed with flying colours. Our tester loaded bags onto the handlebars and it didn’t feel unbalanced at all, with or without a child in the seat.
The five-point harness for the seat is very secure and can be tightened to fit snugly with no risk of child wiggling their arms out. However, our tester found it was really stiff and she struggled with both clipping it together and trying to release the straps for a larger child. Once done up, it is well-padded though.
What about the extras?
A rain cover is also included as standard and fits nice and snugly to ensure the rain is kept out no matter how strong the downpour. When folded, it doesn’t take a lot of space, so you can keep it stored in the basket at all times.
It doesn’t come with a footmuff, but this can be bought separately for around £99.
How easy is it to clean?
After a week of hardcore challenges, the buggy still looked great with no sign of wear, even on the wheels.
Most of the Ocarro is easy to wipe clean, especially the more durable outer material. Our tester noted the softer baby insert doesn’t wipe as well and would need to be handwashed to remove any marks.
Full instructions for cleaning come with the buggy so be sure to follow the manufacturers recommendations. While the cover can be unzipped and removed, cleaning with a damp cloth only is advised.
Read next: The best buggy boards to buy, as tried by parents
Final verdict?
At around £800, the Mamas & Papas Ocarro is at the top end of the price range, our tester felt it offered great value for your money. Out of all the buggies on test, the Ocarro stood out for its luxurious feel, light steering and overall sturdiness.
It is a durable and high quality, so it can face anything your family throw at it. Whether you are pavement-bound or want to head across the park, this buggy will take it all in its stride thanks to its effective suspension and large puncture-resistant wheels.
The main negative is its weight and size, so if you’re looking for something light and compact you might need to shop elsewhere. But if a robust, all-terrain travel system is top of your wish list, you won’t be disappointed with the Ocarro.
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All prices correct at time of publication